There are cruises for partying.
There are cruises for families.
And then there are cruises where the average bedtime is 9:17 p.m. and the best bourbon on board is… Woodford Reserve.
Welcome aboard.
I recently found myself on an MSC cruise—sun, ocean views, endless buffets, and a passenger demographic that skewed decidedly “retired early and aggressively.” The ship was beautiful. The service was for the most part, excellent. The bourbon selection, however – if you even want to call it that, was what we in the Bourboneur community would politely describe as challenging.
Let’s set expectations early:
If you’re a bourbon drinker who tracks secondary market pricing, debates mash bills for sport, and owns more Glencairn’s than socks—cruises are hostile territory.
This is your survival guide.
Every bar menu has a ceiling. On this ship, that ceiling was Woodford Reserve. Not Double Oaked. Not Batch Proof. Just… Woodford. Neat, on ice, or heroically misused in cocktails.
Now, before the emails start: Woodford Reserve is fine. It’s consistent. It’s respectable. It’s the Toyota Camry of bourbon. But when you’re used to driving Ferraris (or at least a well-tuned Lexus), it’s an adjustment.
Acceptance is key. Denial leads to ordering things like “bourbon Manhattan specials” that taste like regret.
Cruise bartenders are professionals—but they are trained for volume, not nuance. Asking for a perfectly balanced Old Fashioned when the ship is serving 4,000 guests is like asking for a bespoke suit at Costco.
If you’re drinking Woodford, drink it neat or with a single cube. This minimizes damage and preserves what makes it drinkable: balance, mild spice, and a finish that doesn’t offend.
Pro tip: avoid peak hours. Fewer people = fewer shortcuts.
Yes. This is the moment.
If you’re on a long cruise and frequenting the same bar, rapport matters. Once the bartender knows you’re not asking for anything complicated—just correct—you can gently nudge things in the right direction.
A cruise-safe Old Fashioned recipe:
• Woodford Reserve
• One sugar cube (or a small amount of simple syrup)
• A few dashes of Angostura
• Stirred, not shaken
• Orange peel only (no neon cherries, this isn’t prom)
Phrase it like this:
“Would you mind making it the classic way? I really appreciate it.”
Smile. Tip. You’re now that guy—but the good version.
If the menu calls it something like Kentucky Sunrise, Southern Breeze, or Smoky Old Sailor, abort immediately.
Cruise creativity plus bourbon usually equals too much sugar, juice where juice shouldn’t be, and Woodford crying silently beneath pineapple foam.
Stick to classics. Or better yet—switch spirits temporarily.
Here’s the truth no one wants to admit: cruises often have better rum than bourbon.
When the bourbon selection tops out early but the rum lineup is surprisingly deep, adapt. A well-made daiquiri or rum Old Fashioned can carry you through a week without emotional damage.
This isn’t betrayal. It’s survival.
You’re not on a cruise to analyze barrel entry proof or debate chill filtration. You’re there for ocean views, downtime, and the rare joy of doing absolutely nothing.
Sometimes that means sipping Woodford on a deck chair while watching the sun disappear into the sea, surrounded by people who think Jack & Coke is a personality.
And honestly? That’s okay.
Would I choose an MSC cruise for its bourbon program?
Absolutely not.
Did I survive?
Yes—barely.
If you’re a Bourboneur heading out to sea, go in prepared:
• Lower expectations
• Stick to neat pours
• Teach gently
• Tip generously
• And remember: even average bourbon tastes better with a sunset and zero emails
Just don’t ask if they have anything allocated.
They don’t.
If 2025 taught us anything, it’s that the bourbon market doesn’t pause. Drop season is now year-round, bottles hit the secondary before receipts cool, and the gap between hype and heritage has never been wider.
Navigating that requires more than instinct—it requires truth in numbers. The same approach that recently earned Bourboneur recognition from Forbes.
That’s why we built the Bourbon Blue Book®. With live, verified secondary sales data on over 9,500 bottles, it exists to help you avoid overpaying for shelf noise—or missing the undervalued gems hiding in plain sight.
Inside the Bourboneur app, you get:
• Real-Time Market Data – No guesswork. Just what bottles are actually selling for.
• The Blue Book Advantage – At $3/month or $25/year, it pays for itself the first time you walk away from a bad deal.
• A Growing Community – Thousands of collectors using data—not hype—to stay Whiskey-Wise.
Whether you’re hunting a 16-year Old Commonwealth or pricing a fair trade, don’t fly blind in 2026.
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That’s Bourboneur.
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